The Shiv Sena on Monday appeared divided on the controversial food security Bill with leaders speaking in different voices in Parliament. Shiv Sena leader in the Lok Sabha Anant Geete extended full support to the Bill in the larger interest of the poor people,while Sena leader in Rajya Sabha Sanjay Raut dismissed the Bill as not acceptable in its present form.

The diametrically opposite stand on the legislation baffled the members who were present in both Houses. A senior Sena MP in Rajya Sabha said: We should have discussed the issue at length to ensure a uniform stand.

Stating the party stand in Lok Sabha,Geete said: I would like to state that my party Shiv Sena supports the food security Bill in the interest of poor people.

However,by late evening,Raut expressed a completely different stand on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha. He said: The Shiv Sena cannot accept the food security Bill in its present form.

A close aide of Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said in Mumbai: We will adhere to whatever stand Raut has taken on the Bill. We have from the beginning maintained there were some major defects in the Bill,which should have been amended.

Another Sena MP from Rajya Sabha said Rauts objection was also due to the factor that Congress was engaging in vote politics. Instead of rushing the legislation,they should have considered corrective measures and amendments recommended to them by the opposition parties,including Shiv Sena, said a leader.

The Sena also wondered how a legislation would ensure food for all when food in the country was allowed to rot.